Means for treating fluid



April 1941- c. v. SWEARINGEN 237.851

MEANS FOR TREATING FLUID Filed Aug. 50, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEYS.

April 1941- c. v. SWEARINGEN 2.237.851

MEANS FOR TREATING FLUID Filed Aug. 50, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 2 C: Vfiwaarl'lyen INVENTOI? A TTORNEYS.

April 8, 1941. c. v. SWEARINGEN MEANS FOR TREATING FLUID Filed Aug. 30, 1939 Sheets-Sheet 3 (I VSLU6W'IQQ 'I JNVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

parallel to the Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED sTATEs -PATEN'i OFFICE MEANS FOR TREATING FLUID Clair V. Swearingen, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Application August 30, 1939, Serial No. 292,738

3 Claims. (01.210-29) This invention aims to provide a novel means for treating fluids, a broad and general state ment which will be better understood and made more specific as the description proceeds. The

invention aims to provide novel means for delivering material in predetermined quantities, into a fluid, which may be under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The invention aims to supply a novel timing mechanism for controlling the delivery of the material. A further object of the invention is to supply novel means for actuating the dispensing device.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in top plan, a machine constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being sectioned away; I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation wherein parts are in section;

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the opposite side of the structure from that depicted in Fig. 2, parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a section of the casing and attendant parts, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The frame of the machine comprises a base plate I, on which is secured a prime mover 2, for instance an electric motor. A housing 3 is secured to the base I, and in the housing a speed-reduction gearing 4 is mounted. The initial shaft 5 of the speed-reductiongearing is coupled to the shaft of the motor 2, the ultimate shaft 6 of the gearing being provided with a crank I (Fig. 3), the shafts 6 and 5 being arranged at right angles to each other.

Bearing posts 8 (Fig. 1) are mounted on the base plate I, adjacent to one end thereof, and in the bearing posts, a driven shaft 9 is journaled for rotation, the shaft 9 being arranged shaft 6 of the speed-reduction gearing l. A radius-arm I!) (Fig. 2) is mounted of an operator, on the shaft 2.

secfi'fed on the base plate I.

to swing vertically on the driven shaft 9, adjacent to one end thereof. One end of a pitman II is pivoted (Fig. 3) to the crank arm i on the shaft 6 of the speed-reduction gearing 4, the opposite end of the pitman being pivoted to the intermediate portion of the radius arm I0 (Fig. 2). A pawl I2 (Fig. 3) is pivotally mounted on the radius arm ID. The pawl I2 is adapted to cooperate with a ratchet wheel i4, secured to the shaft 9.

For a purpose which will be made manifest hereinafter, a timing device is provided. The timing device includes a disk I5 (Fig. 1), disposed along side of the ratchet wheel I4, and mounted for swinging adjustment, at the will Throughout a portion of its circumference, the disk I5 is supplied with a smooth track or cam I6, projecting a little way beyond the periphery of the ratchet wheel I4, as Fig. 3 will show, the track having a considerable extent, circumferentially of the ratchet wheel l4. Throughout the remainder of its circumference, the disk I5 is provided with a spur gear l1.

Figures 3 and 5 show that a short post I8 is A horizontal stub shaft I5 is secured in the post [8, and retains upon the post, an angle bracket 20, having an overhanging index 2 I.

A sleeve 22 is mounted on the stub shaft I9, for rotary adjustment at the will of an operator. At its inner end, the sleeve 22 is supplied with a pinion 23, which meshes with the spur gear I! of the disk I5. At its outer end, the sleeve 22 is provided with a dial 24, the calibrations of which cooperate with the index 2i (Fig. 3). The dial 24 has a turning button 25. A clamp wheel 26 is threaded on the stub shaft I9, the hub of the clamp wheel engaging a friction washer 2'! (Fig. 5), mounted on the stub shaft I9 and interposed between the hub of the clamp wheel 26 and the dial 24.

On that end of the driven shaft 9 which is remote from the dial 24 and associated parts (Fig. 1) is secured a crank arm 28. One end of a connecting rod 29 (Fig. 2) is pivoted to the crank arm 28, the opposite end of the connecting rod being pivoted to a slide 30. The slide 30 is mounted for right line reciprocation in a guide 82, which is a composite structure mounted on the base plate I, and serving, so far as the present discussion is concerned, as a support for the slide 30. 'The detailed structure of the part 32,

and its functions other than that of a guide, will be brought out hereinafter.

To the guide 32 (Fig. 2) is fixed an upright bracket 33, carrying a horizontal stud 34, supporting a hopper 35, provided with a downwardly extended spout 36. A receptacle 3'! is detachably connected at 38 to the bracket 33. In the bottom of the receptacle 31 is located a dispensing mechanism 39, which need not be described in detail, because it may be of any desired construction. Let it suffice to say that the dispensing mechanism 39 delivers a measured charge of material downwardly into the hopper 35, the dispensing mechanism including a rotary member 49, having outstanding fingers 4|.

For the operation of the dispensing mechanism 39, there is provided a means actuated by and mounted upon the connecting rod 29. The actuating mechanism embodies a standard 42 (Fig. 2), fixed at its lower end upon the connecting rod 29. In the upper part of the standard 42, a hook-shaped arm 43 is held by a set screw 44 for longitudinal adjustment, if desired. The arm 43 is adapted to cooperate with the fingers 4| of the rotatable member 40, to actuate the dispensing mechanism 39.

What becomes of the material that passes downwardly through the spout 36, from the receptacle 31, under the control of the dispensing mechanism 39, is a manufacturers choice, but the machin embodies a useful structure whereby the material may be introduced into fluid which is under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. With that end in view, the part 32, hereinbefore referred to simply as a guide for the slide 30, may embody a casing 45 (Figs. 4 and 2), supported at 46 from the base plate I, or mounted otherwise. The casing 45 is supplied at its ends with glands 41, and in the glands, the slide 30 has a fluid-tight sliding fit. The fluid to be treated leaves the casing 45, if desired, through a depending outlet pipe 48, but the casing is supplied with a plurality of circumferentially spaced plug closures 49, which permit the inlet and the outlet for the casing 45 to be dis-posed as occasion may require.

The slide 30 has a transverse opening 3| therethrough (Figs. 2 and 4), the opening receiving material discharged from the spout 36. The casing 45 has a horizontally projecting pin 59, whereunto a trough-shaped guard 5| is secured, by a clamp 52. The guard 5| extends part way around the feed slide 3|] and prevents the material from dropping out of the opening 3| in the feed slide.

In practical operation, the motor 2 imparts rotation to the shaft '5 of the speed-reduction gearing 4, the pitman being actuated from the shaft 6 of the gearing, by way of the crank arm 1. The pitman swings the radius arm H], the pawl l2 imparts rotation to the ratchet wheel M, and the ratchet wheel rotates the driven shaft 9.

Noting Fig. 2, when the shaft 9 is rotated, the crank arm 28 actuates the connecting rod 29, the connecting rod delivering right line reciprocation to the feed slide 39. When the connecting rod 29 is operated, the working end of the arm 43 on the standard 42 is caused to move in a vertical orbit, and cooperates with the fingers 4| to turn the rotatable member 40 of the dispensing mechanism 39, material being delivered into the hopper 35, the material moving through the spout 36, into the opening 3| of the feed slide. When the feed slide is advanced, the material is fed into the casing 45 and mingles with the fluid passing through the casing, an hermetic delivery of the material being effected, because of the glands 41, even though the fluid passing through the casing may be under pressure.

The operator can back ofi the clamp wheel 26 of Fig. 5, thus setting the dial 24 free for rotation, the dial being rotated by an operator, through the instrumentality of the hub 25. Rotation is imparted to the sleeve 22, and the pinion 23, cooperating with the spur gear ll on the disk l5, rotates the disk, the cam or track portion |6 of the disk being shifted circumferentially of the ratchet Wheel M, with respect to the pawl l2 on the radius arm H1. The pawl I2 is adapted to ride upon the track l6, and the position of the track, considered relatively to the pawl, determines the number of impulses which the ratchet wheel I4 will receive, in any given time, from the pawl l2. The feed slide 39, therefore, may be given any desired number of reciprocations per minute, as a time-unit example, and it will be clear from Fig. 2 that there will be a corresponding number of discharges of material from the opening 3|, into the fluid traversing the casing 45.

The machine may be used for treating fluid of any kind, such as sewage, water, either potable or for delivery into a boiler, steam, or industrial waste. The assembled material discharged from the receptacle 31, may be in the form of pills or pellets. measured, quantities, capsules, containers, crystals, etc. The fluid may be treated to render it sterile, or for the purpose of deodorization, and if the fluid is water, a softening operation may be brought about. The uses mentioned are simply illustrative examples, and impose no restrictions on the use of the device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine for treating fluid, a dispensing mechanism including a rotatable member, a shaft supported for rotation, means for rotating the shaft, a crank on the shaft, a slide, means for supporting the slide for reciprocation, a pitman pivoted to the crank and to the slide, and an actuator carried by the pitman and including a part movable in an orbit into which a portion of the rotatable member extends and therefore engageable with said portion of the rotatable member, to operate the dispensing mechanism.

2. In a machine for treating fiuid, a dispensing mechanism, means for operating the dispensing mechanism, comprising a shaft supported for rotation, a radius arm mounted to swing with respect to the shaft, means for swinging the radius arm, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft, a pawl carried by the radius arm and engageable with the ratchet wheel, means for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel throughout a portion of the stroke of the radius arm, and a device under the control of an operator for shifting the last-specified means, to vary the length of the period of engagement between the pawl and the ratchet wheel, and thereby to time the dispensing mechanism.

3. In a machine for treating fluid, a dispensing mechanism, means for operating the dispensing mechanism, comprising a shaft supported for rotation, a radius arm mounted to swing with respect to the shaft, means for swinging the radius arm, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft, a pawl carried by the radius arm and engageable with the ratchet wheel, means for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel throughout a por- .tion of the stroke of the radius arm, comprising a rotatable member provided with a gear, and

with a track engageable with the pawl, and a supported for rotation and provided with a. gear device under the control of an operator for romeshing with the gear of the rotatable memtating saidmember, to vary the length of the her, and means operated by the last-specified period of engagement between the pawl and. the shaft for indicating the amount that said shaft ratchet wheel, and thereby to time the dis- 5 has been rotated. pensing mechanism, said device including a shaft CLAIR V. SWEARINGEN. 

